My research addresses the neural mechanisms underlying the interaction between traumatic brain injury and alcohol use. I am also interested in how stress interacts with this relationship as well as identifying ways to improve negative outcomes of these concurrent conditions.

Joshua Oakes, Ph.D.

Degree: Ph.D., Cardiovascular Sciences, Baylor College of Medicine, January 2016Advisors: Jason Gardner, Ph.D. and Xinping Yue, Ph.D.Research: Effects of inhalable nicotine on the development of cardiopulmonary diseaseEmail: joake1@lsuhsc.edu

My long term research interest is how the airborne inhalation of nicotine leads to the development of cardiac disease. More specifically, my research is looking at the effects of nicotine on the renin-angiotensin system and its effects on cardiac function.

My long-term research interest is to determine how specific cellular changes influence cognitive deficits and relapse propensity in alcohol-dependent animals. In addition, I am interested in investigating cognitive mechanisms affected by chronic pain in rodents as well as altered signaling in reward-, pain-, and cognition-related circuitry in non-human primate models of HIV/alcohol comorbidity.

Dr. Weera is interested in elucidating the neural circuits and neurobiological factors that underlie substance (primarily alcohol) use disorders. Further, his research seeks to understand the neural bases of co-morbid substance use and psychiatric (e.g. post-traumatic stress) disorders , as well as between different types of substance use disorders. The goal of Dr. Weera's research is to inform prevention and treatment strategies for substance use and related psychiatric disorders.